test the child for RSV (a nasal swab test), since there’s no good treatment other than rest, proper nutrition and hydration.
Signs of severe RSV to look out for
Certain symptoms could mean a child’s RSV is getting worse, however.
“When you start seeing clues that it’s something more than a cough,” Ericson said. “When a child is coughing so hard they vomit, or when they’re coughing so hard, they can’t eat. For a little baby who’s breastfeeding or being fed from a bottle, if their nose is so stuffed up that they can’t take the milk, they can end up becoming dehydrated or develop nutrition problems. They need to see a doctor.”
Breathing is the biggest issue to monitor, she said.
“Breathing fast, breathing hard. Breathing hard in a baby looks like they’re using their belly to help get air in and out of their lungs. Their skin is sucking in between their ribs with each breath,” Ericson explained. “Their head might be bobbing as they’re trying to use their body to pull air into their lungs.”
If difficult breathing like this commences, it’s time to call a doctor, because the child may need “supportive care.”
“That means we help their body do whatever it can’t do because of the illness,” Ericson added. “So, if they can’t eat, we give them nutrition through a tube down their nose or intravenously. If they’re dehydrated, we’ll give them fluids. If they can’t get enough oxygen, we’ll give them oxygen. If they can’t breathe, we’ll put them on a ventilator.”
Luckily, the vast majority of babies and children in the United States who require hospital care for RSV will recover.
Stopping the spread
However, one good rule of thumb is to not let RSV spread beyond your family, Ericson said.
“If your child is sick, if they have runny nose, if they have cough and definitely if they have fever, they should stay at home,” she advised. “And that has always been our recommendation even well before COVID — if you’re sick, stay home.”
And if you worry that your child is vulnerable to RSV, “then I think it’s worthwhile to pay attention to think of the environment you’re visiting,” she suggested. “Is it crowded? Are there lots of small children there?” Skipping the event or trying to hold it outside, as well as wearing face masks at indoor events, can cut transmission risks.
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There is some real hope that “RSV season” could someday be largely a thing of the past, Ericson noted.
“The medical community has been working on developing an RSV vaccine for decades,” she said. “RSV and similar respiratory illnesses are the leading cause of childhood death globally. So, having an effective vaccine would definitely be a game-changer, especially internationally where children have a pretty high risk of death from respiratory infections. And RSV is the most common cause of respiratory infections in little children.”